Albert Berry Copper ~ Berry's Craft Shop

Albert Berry is a well known Northwest craftsman who created fine pieces of hammered copper and jewelry with Indian and Northwest motifs. Albert Berry traveled to the Klondike as a gold miner sometime before 1905. He left the city of Dawson, the hub of the Klondike in the Yukon Territory, in 1905 taking up residence in Fairbanks Alaska. On August 22, 1906 Albert Berry married Erwina Jeanneret in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was listed in the Fairbanks local directory and the Alaska-Yukon Gazeteer as a miner and craftsman during this early period of 1907 to 1911. During this period of 1905 to 1912 Albert Berry worked as a miner, hunter and photographer while also studying the local Eskimo and Indian legends of Alaska. By 1913 Albert and Erwina had moved to Juneau Alaska to open a full scale Arts and Crafts shop with the financial assistance of Bart Thane - owner of the Alaska-Juneau Mining Company. It was in this new shop that Albert could express his talent in designing custom pieces which reflected the local folklore that he had learned in his years of living and traveling in Alaska. His first shop was known as the "Alaska Artisans Arts & Crafts Shop" which was located in Juneau Alaska from 1913 to 1918. Early pieces done by his Juneau shop show the large AA mark. Albert's experience as a miner and hunter in Alaska helped him in gathering and trading for local artifacts which were used to adorn much of his work such as fossilized walrus and mammoth ivory, gold nuggets and antlers often seen on his wares. His fine hand crafted items were purchased by the local residents in addition to the large gold rush trade passing through Alaska. Much of the ware that was purchased traveled by boat with passengers from Alaska back to destination ports on the East and West coast.

Albert Berry later moved to Seattle in 1918 and set up his Berry's Handcraft Shop at 1210 Fourth Avenue. Assisting him with production was his wife Erwina, and his brother Wilfred (1882-1964) who had previously worked as a draftsman. On May 14, 1923 the shop relocated accross the street to 1209 Fourth Avenue. By 1927 the shop had once again relocated to 1223 Fourth Avenue where it remained for many years. The shop's location on Fourth Avenue was very strategic in that is was very close to the Olympic Hotel which undoubtedly brought many travelers and tourists to downtown Seattle. Albert continued to produce a variety of hand crafted items from finely hammered copper bowls, fluted vases, bookends, candle sticks, smoking sets, humidors, picture frames, serving trays, table lamps, andirons, wall sconces, ink wells, pen holders, desk sets, punch bowls, ashtrays, carving sets, presentation pieces, childrens bowls, humidors, novelty boxes, letter openers, custom plaques, hanging light fixtures, sun dials and custom made jewelry with indian motifs. The large Mount Rainier scenic stained glass panel that hung in the shop for nearly 50 years was also an orignal design of Albert Berry. Many items were adorned with fossilized walrus ivory in varying colors in both plain forms and finely carved figural animal motifs. Ivory was gathered by Albert from his travels and trading days in Alaska. Ivory was sorted in the shop by size and color and used accordingly to enhance his hand crafted designs. Most work was designed in copper, but the shop also used brass, silver, gold and even utilized art glass for some of it's creations.

Jewelry was a major focus of the shop's output. Berry's Handcraft shop created many unique designs for pendants, rings, earrings and brooches. Many types of exotic stones were used to compliment the shops jewelry designs such as: carved lapiz, lavender agate, jade, madiera topaz, rose quartz, blue zircon, opals, azura malachite, turquiose, zircon, amethyst, rock crystal and cameo designs. The shop also sold other items which were imported or made by others. These items included leather items such as cigarette cases, wallets, purses, indian baskets, antique cameo's, napkin rings, novelty wood items and original oil paintings by famous Alaska painter Sydney Laurence.

It is likely the Berrys were good friends of Sydney Laurence dating back to the early Juneau days, since his original art work was often available in the shop and original Laurence paintings have surfaced featuring the Berry's Craft Shop paper label. Sydney Laurence arrived in Juneau in 1903 and by 1904 worked in Valdez area as a miner, photographer and artist. In 1915 he moved to Anchorage and by 1920 had established his residence and art studio in the Anchorage Hotel. After a short move to California in the 1920's where he set up a small studio - Sydney Laurence relocated to Seattle in the early 1930's and set up a small residence and studio in the Washington Hotel at the insistance of his friend hotel owner Adolph Schmidt. He traveled between his Anchorage and Seattle studios over the next few years. His Seattle studio was only a few short blocks from Berry's shop which made it easy for Laurence to visit and offer his artwork to the Seattle tourist trade that came through Berry's Craft Shop. Sydney Laurence also sold his original oil paintings through select department stores and small local exhibits such as one held in 1936 at the salon studio inside the Olympic Hotel. Laurence painted two monumental 6ft by 12ft Mt. Mckinley paintings in his career (in years 1924 and 1929) - one of which was on display at the Berry's shop in 1937. The large oil painting was featured in a Berry's advertisement stating "This wonderful painting 6x12 feet, with many others by this distinguished artist is on display at Berry's". By 1934 Sydney Laurence had moved his studio back to Anchorage Alaska but continued regular visits to the Seattle area. The association between Albert Berry and Sydney Laurence continued even after the artist's departure back to Alaska and lasted up until the artists death in 1940.

A strong emphasis was placed on custom designing hand crafted pieces for customers. Albert encouraged customers to bring in an idea or design for an item. He would then work with the customer to get the design sketched, finalized and approved. Albert did several unique custom designs for wealthy clients, local clubs, organizations, churches and colleges which required a special piece. Erwina Berry was an acomplished ivory carver and created many hand crafted designs featuring Alaskan motifs carved of ivory. These creations included polar bears, husky sled dogs, elephants, seals, walrus, bobcats, totem poles and even whimsical cats. She also had crafted ivory handles for cutlery sets and other utilitarian items sold ion the shop. Old Eskimo ivory artifacts were also adapted and used as handles on pieces such as letter openers. The Berry's Art's and Craft shop advertised in local weekly publications distributed to Seattle households and in the Seattle phone directory in the Gift and Jewelry sections. The work of Albert Berry's Art's and Crafts Shop continue to be relatively scarce, with most examples surfacing on the West Coast it seems. Occassionaly pieces do turn up back east, possibly from travelers who purchased pieces while on travels to Alaska or the Pacific Northwest.

Albert Berry continued to produce his wares in Seattle, with his wife and brother assisting him in production until Albert's death on October 10, 1949. Shortly after the death of Albert the shop relocated to 93 Marion Street near the viaduct which proved to be a most ideal location for the tourist trade that passed by from the waterfront. The shop remained opened under his wife Erwina's supervision until her death in 1957. After Erwina's death, the shop remained in business with bookeeper Hilda Bale managing the day to day operations of the shop. The remaining shop inventory was slowly liquidated during the years of 1967 to 1971 at which time the shop ultimately closed. Hilda Bale retired to Oregon where she later passed away in 1983 at the age of 93. The shop marketed "Typical Gifts of Northwest Character" and "Gifts of Character - For All Occasions" appealing to local residents and the local Seattle waterfront tourist trade. They had items for almost every occasion, event or purpose.

Competition did exist in Seattle with other curio and craft shops operating nearby. Mack's Totem Curio Shop was selling similar handcrafts and was located very close by at 71 Marion Street. Another shop called the Northwesters' Arts and Crafts opened in 1936 and was located at 1608 Second Avenue in Seattle near the Washington Hotel. The Alaska Curio Shop operated at 1612 Second Avenue. The Hudson Bay Fur Company also advertised Indian and Eskimo Curios at their shop at 1517 Fifth Avenue. The shops rivaled each other as they competed for the tourist business with offerings of various curios such as indian baskets, carved totems, and other Indian and Eskimo made artifacts.